UL and GCC Labs announce plans to establish façade testing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

UL and GCC Labs today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at localizing fire and safety services and establishing a façade testing lab in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) that would offer services across the MENA region.

The MoU recognizes a mutual commitment between global safety science firm UL, based regionally in Dubai, and its joint venture partner GCC Labs, based in Dammam, to explore the development of an agreement to build the first façade and fire testing facility in KSA along with other services, including training.

With the goal to raise the level of safety and building efficiency in the region, such an agreement would combine UL’s safety science knowledge, expertise and global resources with GCC Labs’ unique understanding of local market needs and goals and would expand on the established relationship between UL and GCC Labs to better enable the safety and sustainability of energy products in the region.

UL and GCC Labs first partnered in 2017 to strengthen the Middle East’s renewable energy infrastructure. Both companies have since leveraged their resources, knowledge and experience to update the certification requirements for renewable energy in the region.

Hamid Syed, vice president and general manager of UL Middle East, said: “As a mission-driven safety organization, we are proud to continue fostering safe living and working environments in the region through our relationship with GCC Labs.

“This MoU represents our strong commitment to expanding safety services in the Middle East. It would improve the façade fire-testing market by significantly increasing both the capacity and the quality of cladding and building systems.”

GCC Labs is a closed joint stock company that was formed by a group of leading governmental and commercial entities in KSA and the larger Gulf region. Its mandate is to provide testing, inspection and certification services for electrical equipment.

Saleh A. Al Amri, Chief Executive Officer of GCC Labs, said: “We are delighted to continue working with a globally renowned industry leader such as UL, whose mission and expertise perfectly complement our goal to deliver best in class services in KSA.

“This new collaboration aims to improve fire safety testing and certification, which is to help ensure the safety of all buildings in the future.”